Poinephobia | Fear of Punishment

(poin-fo-be-ah)

What is Poinephobia?

Poinephobia, also known as Mastigaphobia, is the irrational and abnormal fear of punishment, and is classified as a specific phobia. Childhood normally includes the concept of punishment, from parents, teachers, etc., but the phobic develops an extreme fear of punishment well beyond a "healthy respect for authority", etc.

While avoiding bad consequences is entirely normal, the Poinephobe will go to extraordinary lengths to avoid consequences that might be interpreted as "punishment".

Simply put, the idea of “pleasure and pain” will push people towards pleasure and away from pain.

Poinephobia often begins in childhood following extreme or repeated parental interventions, etc. This phobia might be linked to learning disabilities as well, in the sense that failures in school may lead to acting out and consequences.

The origin of the name is the Greek word 'poin' meaning 'punishment' and the word 'phobia' comes from the Greek word ‘phóbos’ meaning 'fear.'

Causes of Poinephobia

Poinephobia is a specific (or “isolated”) phobia, centered on non-social key factors. Such phobias tend to have some previous trauma (often in childhood and often physically injurious) as a root cause; a fear of bees may stem from an injury in childhood, for instance.

Upbringing can also play a role, such as parental warnings about a direct threat (such as “snakes can bite and kill you”) which is especially notable in cases where a threat is more imminent. (An allergy to bees or peanut butter, for instance, would naturally reinforce a real medical concern.)

It is thought that genetics and hereditary factors may play a role in specific phobias, especially those related to a danger of injury. (A primal “fight or flight” reflex may be more easily triggered in those with a genetic predisposition, for instance.)

By contrast, social phobias (like a fear of body odor or touch) are less well-understood, are driven by social anxiety, and are broadly labeled as “social anxiety disorder”.

In all kinds of phobias, external experiences and / or reports can further reinforce or develop the fear, such as seeing a family member or friend who is affected. In extreme cases, indirect exposures can be as remote as overhearing a reference in conversation, seeing something in the news, on TV, or in the movies.

Poinephobia, like most phobias, stems from a subconscious overprotection mechanism, and as with many phobias can also be rooted in an unresolved emotional conflict.